Sprains and strains of other specified sites of shoulder and upper arm

This code signifies a sprain or strain affecting a specific, but not otherwise classified, anatomical location within the shoulder or upper arm region. This includes injuries to ligaments, tendons, or muscles in areas such as the rotator cuff (excluding specified individual muscles), shoulder capsule, or other soft tissues of the upper arm. It represents an acute or subacute injury resulting from overstretching or tearing of these structures.

This code is appropriate for documented sprains or strains of the shoulder or upper arm when the specific site is identified but does not have a more precise ICD-9-CM code. Examples include a general shoulder sprain, rotator cuff strain (unspecified muscle), or a strain of the biceps or triceps where the exact muscle head is not specified. Documentation should clearly indicate a sprain or strain and specify the general shoulder or upper arm region.

• Ensure documentation specifies "sprain" or "strain" and not a fracture or dislocation, which would require different codes.
• Avoid using this code if a more specific anatomical site within the shoulder or upper arm (e.g., supraspinatus, biceps long head) is documented and has a dedicated code.
• Consider external cause codes (E-codes) to describe the circumstances of the injury, if known.